issue 13° july 03

BILL WILLINGHAM LAN MEDINA CRAIG HAMILTON

SUGGESTED FOR MATURE READERS

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1 IS MS TSS (1 Pon ae LOOK AT THIS-- BIGBY WOLF TEPA FROM AND HIS INTREPID TEAM OF Te FABLEG ARE IN THE MIDST OF AND PLT THAT DAMNED //) WATERGATING TOMMY GUN AWAY.

GHARP'S APARTMENT... A SS g GINCE WE aa

CAN'T BE CERTAIN \ // We've DESTROYED Y'/; As’ ALL OF SHARPS ne

FILES, WE NEED TO lj} IMPLEMENT A (GER: MORE DRASTIC ZN

SOLUTION.

oy

V7 20 LET

KILL HIM AND BE DONE WITH

AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DOWNSTAIRS, WATCHING THE DOORZ

|

LAINE,

RK STS

Written Pencilled

by Bill by Lan Willingham Medina

Inked by Lettered by Craig Hamilton Todd Klein Colored and Separated by Daniel Vozzo

Cover art by Assistant Editor James Jean Mariah Huehner

Editor FABLES is created by Shelly Bond Bill Willingham

MYSELF CLEAR. BACK = =n eo 3 BACKBONE FOR OFF OR JILL KILL ONCE, WOLF, YOu.

q z < : MAYBE I DIDN'T MAKE ie r SHOW SOME

BS YOUR NON-VIOLENT PLAN DIDN'T WORK, SO NOW WE'RE FORCED TO FALL BACKON MORE A EXTREME, BLT MORE \ CERTAIN MEASURES,

p q IM WILLING 10 Do IT, $0 MAYBE WE SHOULD YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY } ABOUT GETTING YOUR OWN PAWS DIRTY.

7 YOUCAN EVEN LOOK AWAY, IF YOWREREALLYSO fy SQUEAMISH.

WE'LL DOIT BIGBYS WAY-- 4 ASSUMING HE EVEN HAS AN ALTER- NATE PLAN.

DON'T BOTHER. SINCE NONE OF YOU HAS THE STOMACH FOR ROUGH BLISINESS, I WON'T FORCE IT.

r ACTUALLY, Y THEN IT'S SURE TO SUCCEED gm Cur iT © WE'VE GOTA LOT OF WoRK ITS MY | ) IUSTLIKE EVERY OTHER \Eg OUT. , TODO AND NOT MUCH TIME IN

j SCHEME YOU'VE CONCOCTED Q OVER THE YEARS. Va

JACK, YOU AND V BLUEBEARD, GET BACK DOWN 10 THE

BOY BLUE GET ( LOBBY, WHERE YOU WERE SLIPPOSED TOMMY SHARP i TO BE ALL ALONG. READY FOR / 5

2 THE ENTIRE “QA / AND TIDSTILL POPULATION OF {BE THERE IFIHAD THE CITY COULD BE [gh ANY CONFIDENCE J)

Wad War HapreneD \ [ WHEN DID THEY TO TELL US, AD 0f& TOYO SINCE THE TAME YOUZ NALGEAM. \

g

" A COMBINATION OF BLUSTER A AND DEFT PUBLIC RELATIONS

DON'T PUSH Y OR YOU'LL RIPMY THROAT ; YOUR CONSTANT ° HASN'T ANYONE TOLP You THIS ANY } OUT, ORKALME, OR NORELGES” HAVE THAT THREATG LOSE THEIR FURTHER, BLAH BLAH BLAH2 IMPACT WHEN SO OFTEN = ee N( La REPEATED, WITHOUT 5) aR TW EVER ACTUALLY ACTING QO" ONE OF THEM2

YOU'VE SAID IT ALL BEFORE,

i”

I HAVEN'T NEEDEP SURE, YOU'RE A TERROR YOU'RE A COWARD, TO ACT, BECAUSE YOU'VE WHEN GUTTING UNARMED BLUEBEARD, HIDING ALWAYS BACKEP DOWN S8RIDES ON THEIR WEDDING BEHIN? A LIFETIME

ANP ALWAYS WILL. NIGHT, OR GUNNING DOWN OF WEALTH AND : AN UNCONSCIOUS MAN PRIVILEGE. ON A TOILET. e

NOW, UNLESS

{ YOU'RE PREPAREDTO THROW DOWN. 1

N ‘a THOUGHT £0, SS ma TOUGH GUY. SO WHAT ARE You YW zm Not

WHEN You GET PONE PISSING YOURSELF WITH FEAR, TUCK TAIL DO.

Re

B

z 3

D TIME TO WRAP ITUP, KIDS, WE'VE TOO LONG.

FOR SOME MUNDY

COP TO COME ALONG

ANP SEE US HAUL- ING BODIES OUT OF A BUILDING.

yeE@: ‘ ey "4 WAN) Ds

“A GOING TO CONTINUE

EVERYTHING WE'RE TAKING WITH US.

atk er ( ARE THESE THORNS \g REMAINS ASLEEP, T THINK. Fig Baga f DIDSHEGAIN WEIGHT. | SINCE THE HOMELANDS2

7 FLYCATCHER, AS GOON AS WE GET BACK TO FABLETOWN, ROUND HP A WORKCREW TO COME BACK HERE AND GET RID OF THESE THORNS BEFORE THEY GROW MUCH FURTHER.

BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I TRUST NOT 10 FUCK IT UP, BECAUSE WE CAN'T ALLOW THE MUNPY6S TO WAKE UP AND FIND THEIR BUILDING COVERED IN MAGICALTHORNS. OR BECAUSE T SAID SO. TAKE YOUR PICK.

WILL THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING WAKE UP NOW THAT WE'VE TAKEN BRIAR ROSE

MAYBE. I DON'T ; KNOW. IT SHOULDN! Weenie apa MATTER THOUGH, AS MENTAND GET Him FoR Cie 3 OF eA LONG AS THIS TOMMY ME. IF HE'S ASLEEP, SHARP CHARACTER WAKEHIM LIP. IF HE'S ie STAYS ASLEEP. OUT, GOFINDHIM.HE fff 7 LIKES TO DRINKAT THE BRANSTOCK.

IMPORTANT. GET MOVING. fe

YOU LOOK SAP, MISTER BLUEBEARD. DOYOU FEEL SAD2 DIP SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN 2

UP IN HUMAN SKIN MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. pe HES STILL A PREDA NOT, HE HASW'/T | CHANGED. NO ONE CHANGES HIS BASIC NATURE,

wa MRA

Le

ees

Lilli

ry TY VL

a last Peas

Nn

) MAKING HIM OUR SHERIFF fa ONLY MEANS THAT HEGETS1O B HAVE HIS TEETH AROUND \ EVERYONES THROATS AT ONCE. e <—S\ L WON'T STAND FOR IT ANY LONGER.

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WAT WILL YOU YY REMOVE HIM, -caita SO DO, SIR2 ONCE AND FOR COMMUNITY ALL. SERVICE. — “ ~q a Bh wi ik x

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| perenne ELE

OKAY, WE'VE DONE WHAT WE NEEP TODO WITH TOMMY SHARP.

ALL OF THE MUNDYS ON THE BLOCK COMPLAINED ABOUT

THE CHAINSAWS, BUT I JUST KEPT SAYING “MUNICIPAL BUSINESS” ff OVER AND OVER, LIKE YOU

TOLD ME To.

ANYWAY, WEGOT IT \™ ‘ SO I LEFTMOST OF THE ALL CHOPPED POWN, 4 CREW DOWN THERE TO KEEP BEFORE SUNRISE, BUT 3 . ON TOP OF IT, AND CAME THE THORNS KEEP a BACK TO REPORT IN.

TRYING TO GROW Z i

BACK.

> NOT NOW, FLYCATCHER. ¥ WHY IS IT TAKING SO GOOP rire BUT NOT

SENDING GUYS AROUND DE- MANDING To SEE OUR WORK

UHM ,,,2 WAS AFRAID OF

ME. I ALWAYS TRULY LOVE A WOMAN WHEN I'M F/RST

WAY BACK WHEN, THAT DESCRIBE

LONG 2 WHY ISN'T SHE WAKING UPZ

DAMNED GOOP AT ¥ THE HAPPILY EVER

CHASING HER, BUT IM ONLY GOOD AT THE CHASE. LG

_ AFTER PART.

ona

THE ENCHANTMENT WAS VERY SPECIFIC, SHE CAN ONLY BE WOKEN BYAKI65S FROM SOMEONE WHO LOVES HER WITH TRUE LOVE. ces

MY LOVE QUICKLY FADED

DO WE D02 HOW }\

DO WE WAKE HER? Fe

J

THE TOUGH Bus|- NESS OF ACTUALLY LIVING WITH HER.

I DON'T KNOW, NG FIND SOME PRINCE WHO TRULY Loves

HOW 2 WE NEED HER AWAKE NOW. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO LOOKING FOR...

Pa EXCUSE ME, BUTI AM SERIOUS, YOU WHAT THE ARE YOU OUTOF MISTER WOLE. NEED A PRINCE AND IM A HELL. WHY NOT2 ) YOUR MINP2 HES PRINCE. MAYBE NOT A VERY GIVE ITA SHOT, AN (MIBECILE ! HANDSOME ONE, BUT IM vic BRIAR. I MEAN EHESS : Sor i A yal ZA Sl Se L TAKE ONE LOOK AT biG /

== — =]

THIS 16 GROWN-HP TALK, WE NEEP TO BE SERIOUS

NOW.

r TILL BE

AMNED. \T

OneD. ' oN \ any OUT2 AND WHY DOES MY by 4 MOUTH TASTE LIKE BUGSZ.

—_

CAN'T TALK NOW. SHARP WILL BE WAKING.

WHAT W 1 FEEL LIKE NYHEAD. HAPPENED SOMEONE SLIPPED }_/ WHICH IS ‘ py WEA MICKEY. Ag? MORE OR LESS

CREATURES DO @ TO ME2

WHAT WE DID. WE DRANK : a BLOOD.

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ij - it \

p S S= VA

BUT NOWWE'LL ‘if Pp I ONLY WANTEDA BEABLETO KEEP & BNO BIG STORY. I DIDN'T TABS ON YOU, AND I SGA MEAN ANYTHING. CONTROL YOU IF ; , WE HAVE TO. » YOU'VE pf

SEEN THE

Movies, YOU

KNOW HOW

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di

NOTALL THAT MUCH. NOT ENOLGH TO CHANGEYOL INTO ONE OF US. ei RELAX. YOU WON'T BE il GROWING FANGS OR

AVOIPING ITALIAN

FOOD,

YOU TRIED TO SELL US OUT FOR A FEW DAYS OF FLEETING NOTORIETY.

WE DON'T ALLOW

THAT SORT OF

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DOWITH MEZ

NOTHING, AS LONG AS YOU BEHAVE. BUT IF YOU EXPOSE US, WE'LL MAKE YOU DO SOMETHING

FATAL TO YOURSELF.

HANG YOURSELF. SLIT YOUR WRISTE IN

THE BATH. A

WHATEVER SIRIKES OUR FANCY AT THE TIME, WE'VE TASTED YOUR BLOOD.

YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RESIST us. At

receess

TH ibegeeces il

I WAGEN'T TRYING TO HURT YOU PEOPLE. I LIKEP YOU. I DID. I'VE BEEN GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TOYOU FOR THREE YEARS. LEARN -

ING YOUR STORIES ANP RELATIONSHI

PS,

WE'LL DESTROY YOUR Y REPUTATION. WE'LL MAKE YOUR KIDS, YOUR FAMILY A AND BOTH OF YOUR EX- \ WIVES DETEST You...

LOOK AT THESE

ESE, KEEP THEM IF YOU

LIKE. WE'VE GOT COPIES.

(TS NO STORY AT ALL NOW.

ALREADY SENT IT TO SOMEONE...

\

il ANY PART OF YOUR STORY GETS OUT, EVEN FROM SOMEONE ELSE, WE'LL DOMORE THAN KILL YOU.

ANP SHARPIE, IF YOU'VE —

WH- WHY? HOW2 WHAT ARE YOU GOING

“= \ ~ NN a

ON SSSR” war Ba \ \\\\\\ HAVE YOU

a

i” Y THAT LITTLE BOY IN THE PICTURES WITH YOU IS ONE OF HS. IMMORTAL, OVER THREE CENTURIES OLD.

7 BUT HELOOKS NO MORE THAN EIGHT OR NINE--ESPECIALLY THE WAY WE DRESS HIM UP.

“6 WHEN THESE GET OUT 2 EVEN IN OUR

HERE'S HI6 EXTENSIVE AND DETAILED FORENSIC INTERVIEW

7

“We 'TH A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST,

TWO SOLID HOURS - WORTH. YOU'LL ESPECIALLY LOVE THE PART WHERE HE POINTS OLIT ON Hid FAVORITE TEDDY BEAR ALL THE IN- APPROPRIATE PLACES YOU TOUCHEP HIM.

LIBERTINE ERA THIS SORT OF CONDUCT IS NOTHING SHORT . OF DISGUSTING.

willl f |

om \

\

Ze

YOU CAN'T BO THISTOME. HIS KIND OF THING -- EVEN

We hele LIVES. “ ay £28

(A

YES IT DOES. BUT IF YOU'RE EVER TEMPTED

TO CREATE THIS CULTURE.

YOU'LL WANT TO TAKE AGOOP LOOK AT THOSE, TOMMY, EVERY TIME VOU'RE TEMPTED TO

PLAY SOOENAEIET

el THE WORLD YOU I} THA

WELCOMETO YW WHAT DO

. DOZ iH ys =

GO BACK TO YOUR LIFE AND

DEATH --(F YOU CARE ABOUT HOW YOU'RE REMEMBERED. _,

AFTER THIS PIECE OF SHIT GETS DRESSED, ESCORT HIM OUT ANP PUT HIM INA CAB.MAKESURE HE TAKES YA

THE VIDEOTAPE ANDALL OF HIS

DIRTY PICTURES WITH HIM.

Z—2——S24_< | PVENETIAN MARBL

AND AT THAT {¢ TILES AN? COUNTER:

inl yA TOPS. GOLD-PLATED Ss An

aN SS

7 ~MOOREWOOD AND ZA BERMAN BATHROOM , FIXTURES.

ZY CERAMICS. OH, BRIAR,

& MY LOST LOVE -- . ST

P

God cs MY --YOUHAVE Wm DONE WELL FOR Wee YOURSELF. /,

I. DON'T THINK YYOUNEEDIOLIE

YOU SHOULD BE DOWN UNTIL YOU FEEL GETTING UP YET, = BETTER AGAIN. BRIAR, DEAR,

I’M OKAY.

HST A LITTLE

SORIENTED IS ALL.

Ni / my SLeerne | pi ST SPELLS SOMETIMES

LEAVE ME FEELING THI

SOMEONE HAD TO STAY TO LOOK AFTER YOU. WHY ARE YOU SMILING LIKE THATZ

LITTLE SOMETHING SOMEONE TOLD ME RECENTLY.” pS y ITGOTALLTHE SecuRITY TAPES, NOW WE JUSTHAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM 10 FINISH . UPSTAIRS. «t

WEIN

SERIOUSLY 2

(J GHE IS REAL PRETTY, oT BRIAR ROSE GOTOLIT

SHE ALWAYS \\ MISTER CHARMING. AND PID LOOK HER RICH TOO, S| WITH HER FORTUNE }\ THE RESTOF US, BUT BEST WHEN SHE \ MY INTACT2 Z NEVER THAT DIDN'T LAST

WAS SLEEP- yy |< ORD, HEARP THAT. , LONG,

CA I REMEMBER ALL THOSE FAIRY IF SHE GAVE ITALL AWAY TODAY, YR) aN BLESSINGS SHE GOTON HER SHE'D PROBABLY WIN THE LOTTERY

BSN, “1 2'STENING AY? ONE OF THEM ON W ——

BAT) WAS THAT SHE'D ALWAYS BE WEALTHY. | IAM CARs - Ld

| VN WITHIN A YEAR OF ARRIVING HERE Hera SHEMADE A KILLING IN THE

SD) ek STOCK MARKET. BIOMAGIC,

eC -Ariillp_ Y'KNOW?

fs YP wHos sHe SEEING THESE YJ 2) DAVE?

WHY ARE YOU SUDPENLY BEING SONICE TO MEZ WHAT ARE YOU LP TO?

y BUT THAT DOESN'T APPLY

I'M RESOLVED TO BARN WHAT YOU'VE SO FREELY GIVEN ME.

AND AS MY PENANCE, I’M GOING 10 STAY HERE WITH YOLU-- NO, NOT ROMANTICALLY-- THOSE DAYG ARE PAST US NOW. I NOLONGER

DESERVE THOSE

GLORIES.

NG

\\

AND YOU ARE TO BE

APMIRED MOST OF ALL,

BECAUSE YOU AND T BOTH KNOW YOU'VE HAD THE MOST TO 6 FORGIVE.

Q (T'S NOT ALL THAT SUDDEN, DEAR, WE JUST HAVEN'T SOCIAL/ZEP SINCE ESCAPING THE HOMELANDS, I KNOW WE ENDED OUR MARRIAGE BADLY, AND IT WAS ENTIRELY MY FAULT, IT WAS UNFIT FORTHE HOLY STATE OF MATRIMONY.

BUTSINCE THEN I'VE BEEN INFECTED BY THE SPIRIT OF THE GENERAL AMNESTY, WE'VE EACH TAKEN A PUBLIC STAND ON THE SIDE OF FORGIVENESS AND A NEW CLEAN SLATE.

~ TI HAVE TO CONFESS, I FIND MYSELF INAWE OF YOUR GENEROSITY OF HEART,

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY. BUT LCAN'T JUST BLITHELY ACCEPT YOUR FORGIVENESS AND MOVE ON WITHOLIT ANY ACT F CONTRITION ON MY PART.

i THE OLD PRINCE | CHARMING MIGHT HAVE I BEEN ABLE TO, BLT THAT MAN NO LONGER

Wn EXISTS.

TT ce SO I'LL 6TAY HERE W SEE YOU THROUGH YOUR \

Al | PLATONICALLY, INONE §PELLS, FOR MONTHS, HF OF THE OTHER BED- YEARS, OR DECADES-- Wed | ROOMS, ANP TAKE

CARE OFYOU.

AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO WORK OFF MY

E a YOU LET zi <q HIM MOVE IN WITHYOU2

GUEST ROOM. Es

= eae

79} 3 K a

fag , lf Kees SA NN g < MJ i LP 'G NOT LIKE V3 ) THE BIGGEST ONE, { THATHESINA ) RD TILL BET. od j = SS 2 i { 5

CAN WE PLEASE = GET TO WHY YOU IM JUST CATCHING ] ASKED ME HERE, UP ON SOME PAPERWORK \

MISTER WOLF2

: ; ME ABOUT YOUR INCIDENT

BACK IN TIFFANY'S. WE HAD | SOME TROUBLE WAKING . YOU LAST WEEK AFTER THE SHARPAFFAIR.

if | | BUT I NEVER FOUND OUT @ a. ONE OF THE ..,UH,., POLICEMEN HOW THEY WOKE YOU THEN-- WHO RESPONPED TOTHE __ IN THAT PUBLIC STORE --AND ’ SITUATION -- HE HAD A p POLICE DOG, Z >

HOW NO ONE NOTICED AVERY AFFEC- \(

TIONATE POLICE DOG. KF

I WOKE To HIM H LAPPING AT MY

AND DON'T TELL ME-- THE DOGS |_NAME WAG PRINCE2

S———/ REPEATANY OF THIS 4 Lt aNp Tie HATE YoU J 12. FOREVER. A!

ND LATER THAT EEE=Z ge mace EVENING, IN A se A REMOTE CORNER 2 —==———{ MEETING ME ON SUCH OF NEW YORKS j : SHORT NOTICE, MISTER

I eR Ne eS YW IDON'T HAVE ENE ae Sey” I THOUGHT WE MUCH CHOICE, DOI2 , Ik SHOULD HAVE AN UPDATE YOU GUYS SAY “JUMP” ENB eee ; SY ON THE STATE OF YOUR h ANDI ASK*HOW | OY ar s Ai NOTES, FILES ANP OTHER y 4 : Ue, SRM EVIDENCE PERTAINING ff TOMY COMMUNITY.

ANAT ORY.

peek AC YA 2%,"

IT'S DESTROYED. ALL OF IT.NO \SMene/a Rig tke conc Es ee NOTES. NO TRACES. NOTHING y i YOU CAN SEARCH Me, OR MY j name a)

PLACE -- ANYWHERE YOU

AND WE'LL ALL SLEEP MORE COMFORTABLY AT NIGHT

OH, THAT WON'T ‘aa WITHOUT THAT UGLY BUSINESS BE NECESSARY, Ly HANGING OVER OUR HEADS =

THOMAS. Vb ™ ANY LONGER.